5
Optimisation of Allocation and Scheduling
in The Blasting Halls Team: CHUA Xin Qian, FAN Siyu, GAN Wei Ming, SHAO Xuna and ZHENG Qingyu
Supervising Professors: Dr. TEO Kwong Meng and Dr. Michel-Alexandre CARDIN
Industry Supervisors: Mr. Daryl LIM and Mr. Andy NG
Objectives
1) Leverage on Excel VBA to Optimize Planning
Process
2) Provide Feasible Planning Scheme
Scope Block Painting Process in Blasting Halls
Allocation Process Map On-site Observations of Process
Interviews with Painting Supervisors
Heuristic Approach
Experience-based Technique
Feasible solution obtained in minimal time
Operation Platform
Excel Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) platform
User-friendly
Compatible with existing planning process
Automate Planning Process
Future Direction
Use as a prototype for future development
Explore other approaches to achieve improved solution
Improve planning accuracy as planning lead time increases
Phase I: Problem & Objective
Phase II: Methodology
Phase III: Implementation
Phase IV: Future Direction
Poka-yoke Features (Mistake-Proofing)
A Japanese concept oriented to finding and correcting problems as close to the source as possible.
User Functions User Interface
Planning Input and Output
Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering System Design Project
1. Manual Process 2. Qualitative 3. Uncertainty 4. No tracking of
Performance Indicators
1. Automated Process 2. Qualitative & Quantitative 3. Account for Uncertainty 4. Tracking of Performance
Indicators
Where we are
Where we want to be
Efficiency
Effectiveness
Problem
Manual planning and scheduling of blocks into blasting halls
Design
Construction
Painting in Blasting Halls
Erection
Handover Date
Required Date
Production Process
Identify Suitable
Halls
Start Allocation
Identify Project &
Block Type
Compare Required Date(RD)
with ESD
Check Handover
Date (HOD)
Hall Available on HOD?
Identify Hall with Earliest Start
Date (ESD)
Will Block meet RD?
Schedule Block into
Hall on ESD
RD earlier than scheduled
block?
Schedule New Block into
Hall on HOD
Request for Additional Manpower
Yes
No
Yes
No
No
Yes
Allocation Ends
Meet Requirements 1. Start after Handover Date 2. Go into Suitable Hall 3. Finish before Required Date
Reduce: Hall Idling Time Increase: Average Difference between Finished Date and Required Date Simplify: Allocation and Scheduling Process
Make necessary modification 1. Manual Allocation 2. Modification of Duration or Required Date
If fail Feasibility Check
Improvement
Feasibility Check
Model Analysis
Planning criteria and constraints
summarised in the Allocation Process Map
Objectives 1) Leverage on Excel
VBA to Optimize Planning Process
2) Provide Feasible Planning Scheme
Contributions 1) Increase in Planning Efficiency and Accuracy
2) Reduction in Planning Lead Time
3) Simplification of the Planning Process
Additional Data Tracking and Report Function Generating Process
:
Modes of Validation
Remarks Results
Test Cases Inputted specific test cases to check for the accuracy of specific outputs
What-if Analysis Carried out what-if analysis to test the robustness of the program
Comparison with Historical Data
Inputted historical data to compare the level of consistency
Feedback from Company
Continuous communication with industry supervisors for feedback
Program Result Analysis
Inputted historical data to analyse the amount of improvement from past schedules
Validation
Include controls/features e.g. dropdown lists and alerts to prevent or diminish error occurrence
Simple and inexpensive inspection at the end of each successive operation to determine or correct defects at the source
